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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in the "basketcases02" journal:[<< Previous 20 entries]
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08:38 pm
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Novel: Independence Day by B.A. Ecker
Independence Day
B.A. Ecker
Genre: Drama, After school special, Young adult lit
Keywords: coming out, friendship, 80's, cover girlfriend, sexual awakening
S: Michael is gay and in love with his best friend Todd. He decides to tell Todd that he's gay on the fourth of July because of the support of an understanding adult.
The relationships in this one are pretty weak although somehow Michael and Todd held my interest enough to make me read to the end. I didn't feel that this novel had anything controversial to it and it could be read at any age. There was a sweetness and an innocence to it that didn't seem realistic to me, but a younger reader might enjoy.
Luckily I got this one in a lot with other novels, so I don't feel like I wasted my money. The writing was not good. None of the characters seemed like real people and the dialoge was some of the worst I've read in a long time (possibly ever). I'm not much for sap, and Independence Day provided little else. It reminded me of one of those old after school specials that beat viewers over the head with the moral. That said, there was a certain charm to it, and somewhere in the middle I found myself turning the pages quickly to reach the disappointing climax and even more disappointing resolution (which were about 3 pages from each other). I may have wasted my time reading this novel but at least it was only a few hours at most.
I wouldn't recommend Independence Day unless you're looking for something that may help validate a youth struggling with his or her sexual identity, but surely there's better YA gay fiction out there. D
Tags: novels
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08:09 pm
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Movie: Brokeback Mountain
I know I've been away for a long time. Things have been really hectic (moving, work, etc.)
Brokeback Mountain
Directed by Ang Lee
Drama/Western
Keywords: cowboys, closeted, cover wives, prejudice, strong silent type
S: Jack (Heath Ledger) and Ennis (Jake Gyllenhaal) spend a summer together herding sheep on Brokeback Mountain and develop a secret bond which must be hidden from society and the men's families.
I loved how the relationship was portrayed and was a fan of the nonverbal communication of the two actors. Oftentimes they were able to get across their emotions by their expressions and I thought that the actors had great chemistry. I really wish there had been more physical affection between them especially as the two of them grew older. I may remember wrong, but I don't think there was as much as a kiss in the last part of the movie. If I hadn't read the story, I may have wondered if their relationship still involved the physical realm. My favorite scene was the first kiss. I thought that Ledger effectively displayed his character's awkwardness and hesitancy.
I was impressed with all the actors in this film including the side characters. I was especially impressed with Michelle Williams (Ennis' wife) and Jake Gyllenhaal. Williams evoked sympathy, and I heard several sniffles during her more intense scenes. Gyllenhaal made me believe he was in love and made me feel frustrated for him as he continued to dream of a life with Ennis. The cinematography and the composition of the movie was beautiful and I loved the soundtrack although by the end it was repetitive. My main complaint was the length. I personally felt that about 20 minutes could have easily been shaved out of the middle without changing the story. I also really wanted it to end at a certain part (of course I didn't read the version of the story which included one of the main character's future so I didn't know what to expect). I thought it should end at a frame which was identical to one at the beginning and was a little surprised when it continued. I was feeling pretty emotional at the time, and for some reason the actual ending detracted from that.
I personally loved the movie, but it's not for people who hate slower films. The acting was incredible, but it could have made a stronger impact with some editing. I'll probably see it again. A-
Tags: film
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10:21 pm
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Novel: The Brothers Bishop by Bart Yates
The Brothers Bishop
Bart Yates
Drama/Dark Humor
Keywords: Incest, teacher, closet case, statutory rape, unreliable narrator, archeology, abuse
S: Nathan's solitary life as a high school English teacher is interrupted by the arrival of his younger brother and the fact that his land is supposedly the site of an ancient society. To make matters worse, his promiscuous brother Tommy has brought along his latest boy toy and a married couple (the man is obviously a closet case). Nathan must deal with an invasion of his home and property while trying to keep his brother from seducing his summer school student, Simon.
My emotions were in turmoil due to the complexity of Yates' relationships. There was no black and white in this book, only shades of gray, and the characters couldn't avoid hurting each other. Nathan and Tommy's relationship was based on their mutual hatred (and love) for their father and the memories of intimate experiences from adolescence. I wanted more details, but I'm not sure it was needed. The other relationships were also interesting, and I was especially intrigued by Nathan's description of his first love, Andy. Camille and her husband also struck a chord with me as they tried ineffectively to pretend that nothing was wrong with their relationship. The sexual scenes were perfectly executed and never distracted from the amazing story. Some would be bothered by the statutory rape, but this novel does not in any way condone it, and I feel that it's addressed realistically and tastefully.
I began reading this book this afternoon and finished it about an hour ago so I guess I'm not really distanced enough to write this review. I was deeply moved. From the first page the first person narration caught me, and I only put the book down to eat. The main character is so sarcastic and full of verbal irony, and I loved how as I read on his story would change slightly and he'd inform the reader that he hadn't been completely honest about something. He had so many internal conflicts interspersed throughout the main plot, and I was just as interested in those as I was the main action. This novel took me through every emotion; I laughed out loud more than I have in a long time, but I also bit my nails, felt anger, and at points felt as if I'd never be happy again. It was one of those books that will probably stay with me.
THE BROTHERS BISHOP was a wonderful experience. In 280 pages it made me feel every emotion and drew me to the main characters. I felt it handled taboo material tastefully. I'll definitely read Yates' other novel and keep on the look out for anything else he writes. A
Tags: novels
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07:49 pm
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Novel: Swordspoint by Ellen Kushner
Swordspoint
Ellen Kushner
Satire/ Drama
Keywords: Class differences, sword fights, trial, intrigue, political plots
S:Richard, a swordsman who works for the nobles on the hill, is caught up in the game of politics as he strives to maintain his honor and protect his sharp tongued lover, Alec.
I loved the dynamics of the main relationship. You have Richard who is honor bound and illiterate and his boyfriend Alec who is a scholar and has a sarcastic, degrading demeanor. I enjoyed what there was between them, but I definitely wanted to see more. There were other relationships in this novel, but none of them really intrigued me.
I'm not really sure what I think about Swordspoint. I was never really emotionally involved, but I was interested enough to stay with the story. In the beginning the only plot line that interested me was between Richard and Alec, but by the end I was getting into some of the other characters. This one wasn't a page turner for me, and I often found myself drowsy while reading it. I did enjoy the end (I loved how some of the earlier parts really tied together), but I felt there was too much left up in the air and wasn't completely satisfied. I enjoyed the author's tone, but I wasn't a fan of the lengthy scenes that seemed to have little to do with the main plot. One of the main characters was dropped before the end of the novel and I found myself wondering why he had been the focus of so many pages. I found it most surprising because the book is only 269 pages long.
I'm up in the air on this one. I found parts of it enjoyable, but I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending and wanted to see more of the main characters. It may be one that I would like better the second time. B-
Tags: novels
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04:48 pm
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Novel: The Merro Tree by Katie Waitman
The Merro Tree
Katie Waitman
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Keywords: Art, entertainment, censorship, different planets and species, snake, trial
S: Mikk is a famous performance master who has been put on trial for performing a forbidden art. He must defend his actions before a group of his peers including his soul mate.
THE MERRO TREE includes a love story that not only crosses the line of gender, but also the line of species. Mikk is a true bisexual in a world where that doesn't seem to be an issue. The issue is that he is sexual with characters from other planets. I found myself interested in Mikk's exploits and his willingness to defy conventions. His relationship with his soulmate is well developed and fun. The sexual content is not overt or graphic in any way which was fine with me considering some of the match-ups.
I found this to be enjoyable and entertaining. I was very interested in what it had to say about censorship, art, and bureaucracy. The main characters were not overly developed but were interesting enough. Some of the side characters had very little characterization, but the physical descriptions made them unique. My favorite element was the plot structure. The story begins with Mikk preparing to stand trial for reasons unknown to the reader and the reason slowly unfolds through a series of flashbacks beginning with Mikk's childhood. I was equally interested in both aspects of the story and found myself caught up within the first few chapters. The main weakness would be the writing style which at times was a little wordy (though it didn't really bother me). Others might be bothered by the animal like aliens, but I found it to be a great reading experience.
I really enjoyed this unique novel, but you should probably avoid it if science fiction and animal people turn you off. B+
Tags: novels
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06:11 pm
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Novel: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
The Charioteer
Mary Renault
Drama/ Historical Fiction (WWII)
Closeted, war, hospital, injuries, disabled, conscientious objectors
S: In a hospital during World War II, Laurie O’dell meets up with a conscientious objector named Andrew. He has feelings for Andrew but is afraid of destroying the other man’s life. Things are further complicated when Laurie meets a man who played a large role in his past.
The relationships in this one are great because they're so understated and based on true friendship and love. My heart really ached for the men in this novel because of their inability to fully accept themselves and their feelings. Renault also did a wonderful job of presenting Laurie and helping the reader to understand his indecision and insecurities. There is nothing graphic about the novel (I wanted much more). The reader is left to infer all of the physical relations, but the psychological elements are so powerful that I didn't notice.
Not much happens in this novel, so if you need action or a fast moving plot, then it's not for you (there's a place in the book where one evening takes up about 40 pages). The novel is driven by Laurie's characterization and his relationships with other characters. For some reason it fascinated me and held my interest. I also had to work to understand parts of this one which I consider to be a strength. Everything wasn't on the surface and much was left up to the reader especially the ending. This is my favorite Renault book so far because of the characterization and internal struggles.
I loved it, but it would be slow going for some and is not gratifying in the sex department. I found it to be a subtle portrayal of one man's struggle to find out who he really is. A-
Tags: novels
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05:22 pm
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Novels: Fire From Heaven and The Persian Boy by Mary Renault
Fire from Heaven
Mary Renault
Historical Fiction (Alexander the Great)
Keywords: War, politics, philosophy, betrayal, Oedipus syndrome, coming of age
S: Follows Alexander the great from early childhood to the point that he becomes king.
The main relationships in this novel are between Alexander and his mother (which is warped and manipulative) and between Alexander and his best friend, Hephaistion. I loved the Alexander and Hephaistion story line. Their love is so equal, pure, and strong that I was impatient for them to consummate it. I will say that while I understand Renault's choice to keep this a small part of the story, I would have loved to read more.
I felt that Renault brought all of the historical characters to life and I was never bored. I fell in love with Alexander and felt as drawn to him as the men who surrounded him. I especially enjoyed the scenes from his childhood, my favorite being when he was propositioned by a man who didn't know who he was and later got his revenge. I truly enjoyed Renault's choice to use third person narration (through several perspectives) and part of me wishes that she had chosen the same point of view for THE PERSIAN BOY as it really gave me a diverse picture of Alexander.
This is one of my favorite works of historical fiction. I only wish Renault would have spent more time on the relationships. A-
The Persian Boy
Mary Renault
Historical Fiction (Alexander the Great)
Keywords: Eunuch, war, politics, betrayal, love triangles
S: Bagoas is a slave who finds himself a servant to Alexander. He soon becomes the great man’s lover and confidante.
THE PERSIAN BOY is much more explicit than FIRE FROM HEAVEN, and my favorite part of the novel is the love triangle between Alexander, Bagoas, and Hephaistion. I adored the scenes where Bagoas and Hephaistion were forced to communicate and actually would have loved to see more of the two of them. Bagoas has a relationship with a few characters and gets his start as a prostitute, so his point of view was definitely sexual.
This novel is written through Bagoas’ point of view which has its pros and cons. I really liked Bagoas’ character and found him to be humorous especially when describing the barbarians (Macedonians), his plans to “get” Alexander, and his feelings toward Hephaistion. What I didn’t like about it were the limitations. As Bagoas was not present for much of the action, it meant that I was learning about events second hand or because Bagoas was sneaking around. In some ways I preferred the third person perspective found in FIRE FROM HEAVEN. I found the story interesting, but there were a few points that I felt less interested because of the limited perspective. I really enjoyed the scenes focusing on Bagoas’ early life even though that meant that I had to wait over a hundred pages for the two main characters to meet.
I loved THE PERSIAN BOY because of the interesting relationships and historical information even though I at times found the perspective limiting. A-
I also enjoyed the movie ALEXANDER but didn't feel it did the relationships justice. I also think it would be difficult for those who do not know much about Alexander.
Tags: novels
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09:55 pm
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Movie: The Constant Gardener
The Constant Gardener
Fernando Meirelles
Drama/ Suspense
Keywords: AIDS, Africa, politics, cover up, drug companies
S: Justin Quayle is trying to figure out what his wife Tessa had discovered about a major drug corporation and the testing of a new drug on African civilians. In doing so he may be risking his life.
The main relationship in this movie was between Justin and Tessa. It brought up a lot of interesting questions about trust and honesty in relationships and painted a touching portrait of a couple very much in love, but still unable to share certain secrets.
Overall, I thought this was a great movie. The cinematography was beautiful and the acting superb. I love Ralph Fiennes as the awkward and well-meaning Justin Quayle, and Rachel Weisz was convincing as the activist, Tessa. There wasn't really a weak performance in the whole movie, and I found myself believing in the characters. The movie also had a great message and a few points had me close to tears, but my main complaint was that the film was about 30-40 minutes too long. Several scenes were overlong and I did actually check the time once during the movie. I didn't find it boring, just longer than necessary.
THE CONSTANT GARDENER was a moving and interesting look at the role of the western world in Africa. It would have received an "A" from me if it was a little bit shorter. B
My favorite part was seeing the BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN trailer.
Tags: film, not_slash
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08:19 pm
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Novel: The God in Flight by Laura Argiri
The God in Flight
Laura Argiri
Historical Fiction (yale late 1800's)/ Romance
Keywords: child abuse, teacher student, dorm life, art, unrequited love
S:Simion goes to Yale, leaving behind years of abuse at the hands of his fundamentalist father. There he embarks on a journey of self-discovery and forbidden love with a 31 year old professor, Doriskos Klionarios.
This novel had a lot of interesting relationships involving the main character. First of all you have Simion and his much older tutor who become slashy as Simion grows to adulthood. Second you have Simion and his best friend in college, the pleasure seeking Andrew. Finally, you have the virginal professor Klionarios who is so insecure that he doesn't know how to go about a physical relationship. You also have the element of Peter (the typical romance villain) who is in love (lust) with Doriskos and will do anything to break up their relationship. On top of that they're dealing with the fact that the powers that be at the college feel that their friendship is inappropriate. They're helped out by an older couple (one is posing as a servant to stay with his lover) who encourage them in their relationship. I enjoyed the relationships in this novel because they weren't defined to dominant or submissive and it was refreshing to see an older gay couple portrayed in a successful relationship. My favorite couple was actually Andrew and Simion (I felt Dori was too awkward and antisocial) but I also enjoyed the main relationship. The novel is erotic but doesn't cross the line to pornographic.
Although THE GOD IN FLIGHT is in many ways modeled after mainstream romance, I found it to be very enjoyable. The writing style is flowery and pretty and the third person narration works very well. I liked the fact that I could see into all of the characters' minds including the villains. It reminded me of the novels actually written during the 1800's. I loved the characterization. The fact that Dori was such a shy virginal character made the age difference much easier to deal with (that and the fact that nothing really happens between him and Simion until the latter is of age). I also loved Simion's character because he was such a mouthy thing. He was in no way submissive. There was only one part of the novel I hated and that was when Simion went all emotional and suicidal. It just didn't ring true for me because Simion had worked so hard for his survival. There were just a couple scenes that the characters seemed slightly off. The plot moved fast enough and the climax of the novel was exciting although slightly melodramatic.
I thought this was an entertaining novel with interesting relationships and characters. Steer clear if you hate romance, drama, or an excess of emotions (fluff). B+
Tags: novels
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07:19 am
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Novels: The Still and The King by David Feintuch
The Still
David Feintuch
Fantasy
Keywords: power, politics, unrequited love, coming of age, unreliable narrator, forced virginity
S: Rodrigo is next in line for the throne, but his relatives have different ideas. Roddy must fight for his rightful place while transforming from a spoiled bastard to a man.
What I love most about these books are the relationships. I've read a lot of cricism, but I loved Roddy and Rustin's relationship, as well as the understated relationships between other male characters. Roddy is emotionally abusive, while Rustin is at times physically abusive, but the love they have for each other is apparent by the end of the novel. What makes it even more interesting is that Roddy is pretty much straight but has to keep from touching women in order to maintain his power (I guess it's okay for him to touch men) so he sees his relationship with Rustin as against his nature and temporary, while Rustin would like something permanent. The sexuality in the book is understated but sexy.
The plot of The Still is fascinating, but not as fascinating as the main characters' struggle to grow up. Roddy is an awful character and does many despicable acts. I did not like him, but I loved to hate him and loved his explanations for his atrocities. He is an interesting first person narrator, and I often laughed at his world views. I will say that by the end of the novel he had grown on me, and I really wanted to read more of his adventures. Feintuch has an engaging writing style, and I found I couldn't put the book down.
I loved this novel. It has action, adventure, and a main character who definitely isn't your typical fantasy hero. Throw in some slash and you have a book that definitely made its way into my heart. A
The King
David Feintuch
Fantasy
Keywords: power, war, unrequited love, magic, coming of age, forced virginity,
S:Roddy is trying to save his land from the Norlanders while continuing to grow as a man.
I don't want to give anything away from The Still, but The King is both more and less slashy than the other. Roddy and Rustin are still involved in a slashy relationship, but Roddy is clearly more interested in the woman he plans to marry, and this leads to a few touching scenes. There are also some other relationships that become increasingly slashy in this novel.
The plot in this book left me breathless. It had just the right amount of action, suspense, and magic. I was actually interested in the battle scenes which is rare for me. The ending broke my heart, but it was beautiful and unique. Again, I loved the writing style.
I enjoyed The King as much as The Still even though the slashiness is more understated, the plot makes up for it. A
I didn't feel these books were typical fantasy novels, so even if you don't like the genre, you might enjoy these novels.
Tags: novels
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02:35 pm
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Novel: The Mask of Apollo by Mary Renault
The Mask of Apollo
Mary Renault
Historical Fiction (Greece pre-Alexander the great)
Keywords: Greek drama, mythology, political unrest, war
S: : Niko is an actor in ancient Greece who supports a leader named Dion. He becomes involved in many of the political games while rising as a star on the stage.
The relationships in this were interesting but very understated. Niko is gay and has a few relationships, but to me the most interesting scene involved him and a lesbian. The focus of this novel was definitely Greek theatre and politics.
I have come to love Mary Renault, but I did not love this novel. I found it to be interesting and informative but rarely engaging. Her writing style is excellent as well as her attention to historical detail, but I was never emotionally involved and it took me longer than usual to finish this one. The best part of this novel was the end when Niko meets the young Alexander and Hephastion. In this brief encounter she made me fall in love with her version of Alexander which made me read FIRE FROM HEAVEN and THE PERSIAN BOY both of which I absolutely adored.
THE MASK OF APOLLO is a great look into Greek drama and history, but wasn't a page turner for me. It was worth reading but not my favorite from Renault. C+
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11:56 am
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Novel: The Front Runner by Patricia Nell Warren
The Front Runner
Patricia Nell Warren
Drama
Keywords: distance running, civil rights, coming out, persecution, mentor/men-tee relationship
S: Harlan Brown is a distance coach who has experienced many struggles with his sexuality. Billy is a gay distance runner who asks Harlan to risk his career and reputation for the sake of doing what is right.
I found the relationships in this novel to be very moving. Harlan and Billy have an extremely interesting start, but turn slightly sappy. I love the contrast provided by Billy's friends Vince and Jacques who have a much more rocky go of it. The sexual scenes were erotic without being too graphic. I usually read about the darker side of human nature, so this novel was a refreshing change for me. It presents a positive view of relationships in general and made me proud of the fact that humans can show so much love for one another.
On the other side, it also reminded me of the extreme hate humanity is capable of expressing. I don't usually read books for political purposes, but this book was definitely making a social statement. I never felt I was being preached to, but I knew what message the author wanted to promote. Even though Harlan and Billy's story was written in the 1970's, I feel that the message is still necessary for audiences today. To me it didn't feel dated because I know that there is still a long way to go for everyone to have his or her deserved civil rights. I love Warren's writing style and felt that she portrayed a very convincing human being through the character of Harlan Brown; the first person narration really worked for me because sometimes I forgot that the character wasn't real. The story moved at a fast pace and although I have no interest in sports in general, I found the descriptions of the training and the events to be as entertaining as the other portions. The best part about "The Front Runner" is that these characters will stay with me forever. I haven't stopped thinking about this novel since I finished it and still feel emotionally tied. I may have to revise this review after I've distanced myself from the emotions I experienced while reading this novel.
Everyone should read "The Front Runner" because it's a deeply moving human story. I can see why it had such wide spread appeal when it was first published and can't wait to read the sequels. A
Tags: novels
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05:19 pm
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Novels: Palenoc Series by Robin Wayne Bailey
Brothers of the Dragon
Flames of the Dragon
Triumph of the Dragon
Robin Wayne Bailey
Fantasy/ Adventure
Keywords: Unicorns, dragons, martial arts, travel to another world, evil, savior
S: Two brothers,Eric and Robert, go on a camping trip and suddenly find themselves in a world torn apart by the forces of evil. Now Robert and Eric must fight unicorns, insects, and warriors while waiting for the Son of the Morning to appear and save the land from the Heart of Darkness.
The main relationship in this is between a man and a woman, but there are three other relationships between male couples. None of these relationships are especially deep or interesting. My favorite one involves two characters on the evil side who don't appear until book three. Overall the sexuality is understated and the relationships dull. These books do contain quite a bit of violence, and a few scenes in the third book made me queasy.
After reading "Shadowdance" I found these books to be highly disappointing. The writing style never really drew me in, and the novels were written from several perspectives. Sometimes I really enjoy rotating perspectives, but in these novels it made the story feel disjointed. I just wasn't really into all of the characters and was only interested in one perspective. It took me forever to get through the first two, and I only read the last one because I had it, but I'm glad I did. The final installment in this trilogy is very interesting. I especially love the scenes from the perspectives of the evil characters which before this novel don't really have much character. I would say that the third novel was worth reading.
These novels were definitely not my favorites there was too much action and not enough character development in the first two books, but the last one brings it around and makes it worth reading. I think that this series is definitely for those who prefer typical fantasy and adventure stories. C-
Tags: novels
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07:30 am
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Unlicensed Yaoi Manga
I always have such a hard time finding the best unlicensed yaoi manga. Here are some titles that I have really enjoyed (I'm pretty picky). Usually I like stories that have great art and original story lines or put a new twist on an unoriginal story line. I would buy these if they were licensed in the US.
Binetsu Kakumei (Honami Yukine)
S: A dragon lord and his servant enter a normal school, and another student isn’t happy about their apparent master servant relationship.
(this one was just licensed by DMP and will be coming out in Feb. under the title "Sweet Revolution")
Boys Next Door (Kaori Yuki)
S: A serial killer meets up with a prostitute.
Color (Eiki Eiki & Zaou Taishi)
S: Two artists meet and fall in love much to the dismay of their male classmates.
(This is one of my all time favorites)
Groupie (Youka Nitta)
S: A guy and his best friend have threesomes with the guy’s older brother. (I have no deep reason for liking this one. It doesn't really have much plot.)
Help Me (Fuwa Shinri)
S: A boy’s little brother has his body taken over by an alien, and now the boy has a brother complex and is dealing with the feelings of his best friend.
Intense Rain (Fuwa Shinri)
S: Two men meet at a party and have sex and start a relationship but both are too immature and they break up. They meet up five years later.
Junjyo Karen (Mieko Koide)
S: The story of a teacher and a student and the teacher’s possessive ex-lover.
Koi wa Ina Mono Myouna Mono (Taishi Zou)
S: A boy who has visions of the future suddenly starts having dreams about being uke to another boy. When the boy shows up at school he promptly faints and tries to ignore him before learning that he can’t fight fate.
No Money (Tohru Kousaka)
S: A college boy is forced into slavery to pay off a debt.
Take Me to Heaven (Yamato Nase)
S: A boy who can see ghosts is best friends with a boy who can release spirits to heaven and is a bit wild for a future priest. Several ghost stories that slowly bring them together.
Three Wolves Mountain (Naono Bohra)
S: A man who guards the cemetery and runs a tea house takes in two werewolves.
Yononaka wa Bokura ni Amai (Takaguchi Satosumi)
S: Twins were banished from their hometown after they attempted to seduce a guy together. Now they live a life of decadence and work together to seduce (rape?) helpless victims.
Tags: manga
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04:33 pm
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Novels: Last Herald-Mage Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey
Magic's Pawn
Magic's Promise
Magic's Price
Mercedes Lackey
Fantasy
Keywords: magic, slashy villain, coming out, death, family struggles, horses, angst, coming of age
These books follow the character Vanyel from adolescence through adulthood as he learns to control his powers, save the kingdom, and deal with his sexuality.
The romantic relationships in these novels in my opinion are lacking. They're just way too easy. In Lackey's world characters are "lifebonded" which means that they are forever tied together and are not unfaithful to one another. The second major relationship is much more interesting than the first (although it drags out way too long), but my favorite novel (Magic's Promise) had very little focus on relationships. I will say that the first novel had a very interesting and slashy villain, but unfortunately he didn't get enough pages(he was quite the exhibitionist). The sexual scenes were extremely mild although you always know what happened.The violence was also fairly mild with the exception of one scene toward the end of the final book.
My favorite thing about these books is that Vanyel actually had to deal with the fact that he was gay in a world more similar to ours than most fantasies. I thought that Lackey did a great job of actually portraying his emotions and developing the complex relationships between Vanyel and members of his family. The scenes with his family were the strongest in the books and I was much more interested in whether or not he'd reconcile with his father than in whether or not he'd kill off the bad guys. The writing style was fairly simplistic but kept my interest. Although I overall enjoyed reading these, I also found many areas lacking. I felt that the characterization was weak especially concerning the villains. I like my villains to come to life and I never really hated any of them, or remotely cared what happened to them. I also felt that the final book drug out way too long. Her second book had such a great airtight plot that the third book seemed especially long winded. I also didn't care for the ending.
If you enjoy fantasy novels and or Mercedes Lackey, this is a delightful and entertaining series in spite of all its flaws. B
Tags: novels
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05:31 pm
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Movie:La Mala educación (Bad Education)
Bad Education (Spanish subtitles)
Pedro Almodovar
Psychological
Keywords: Drag queens, transsexual, dubious identity, deception, film within a film, Catholic school, abuse
S: A man shows up at Enrique's movie studio claiming to be his first love from their childhood spent at a Catholic school. He has with him a script based loosely on their story, but Enrique finds that not everything is as it appears.
Gael Garcia Bernal is beautiful in this movie (I've loved him since y tu Mama Tambien) and some of the scenes are very sexy, while some of the scenes are definitely the furthest thing from it. So if you're watching it for hot gay sex you'll be disappointed, but if you enjoy overly complex relationships and twists, you'll love it. I especially enjoyed watching scenes from the characters' pasts together.
This movie reminded me of a Hitchcock film (Vertigo) with all the twists and turns in the plot and also the use of color. At the end of the movie I was definitely left with something to think about, and to me that's the difference between a good movie and a great one. I'm purposefully not sharing too many of the plot details because I want you to watch it for yourself.
This was one of the better movies I've seen this year, and Bernal appears in drag. If you love foreign films and having your mind screwed with, you should check this one out. A
Tags: film
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05:16 pm
[Link] |
Novella: Brokeback Mountain
Brokeback Mountain (Close Range: An Unabridged Collection of Wyoming Stories)
Annie Proulx
Western/ Drama
Keywords: Cowboys, cover wife, closeted, sheep, hate crime
S: Ennis and Jack are two ranchers who spend time herding sheep on a temporary job and end up forming a lasting bond.
The main characters were in denial of what their relationship actually was, but I loved the fact that as they grew up through the years, so did their relationship. They go from never talking during sex to having long conversations about their children (that scene was one of my favorites because it seemed so true to life). The love scenes were not graphic but beautifully expressed.
I found this to be an extremely powerful story. I love the author's writing style as it is neither too detailed nor too sparse. I felt like she told me exactly what I needed to know to get the message from the story. I do think I may have enjoyed a little more characterization of Ennis and Jack outside their relationship with each other, but that may have made it clunky.
I loved this story and it is definitely worth your time. A
I am excited that there is a movie version of this coming out in December. If the movie is done well it should be beautiful. Even if it's not done well, I'll see it for Jake and Heath.
Tags: novels
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05:51 pm
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Novel: Edward, Edward by Lolah Burford
Edward, Edward
Lolah Burford
Gothic novel/ Drama/ Historical Fiction (London 1795-1816)
Keywords: Incest, class struggles, university life, abuse, poetry, political and religious unrest
S: An earl is suddenly left with a child who may or may not be his son, and finds himself taken with the child beginning a cycle of lust and abuse.
The relationship in this novel is highly twisted and abusive, but interesting to read about. It is not a novel to read if you are looking for erotica because I found it to be a little sickening at times especially as one of the main characters was so young when the abuse started. There was however a friendship between Edward and one of his classmates which was highly interesting and the main female character in the novel was entertaining. There is very little violence in this novel, but a lot of psychological torment. One thing I can say for the novel is that the relationships surprised me several times.
I really enjoyed this book because the story was unlike any I had read before. I also enjoyed the author's writing style, but it may be too flowery and detailed for some. My main complaint was that at times it seemed to slip into melodrama (one of the characters is kidnapped by gypsies) and the emotions of the main character were too tumultuous. I was interested in what happened to the main characters, but I never felt that I really knew who they were. This was also a strength because it made the characters seem very complicated and although she painted the earl as a terrible person through his actions, she didn't stereotype him and showed his redemptive characteristics also. The ending surprised me and was not at all what I was expecting.
If you can stomach stories about abuse, this novel offers extremely unique perspectives and complicated relationships. I had trouble putting it down. A-
Tags: novels
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06:40 pm
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Anime: Mirage of Blaze
Mirage of Blaze
Media Blasters, Inc (13 episode series and 3 episode OAV)
Supernatural/ Drama
Keywords: reincarnation, war, spirits, unrequited love, obsession, friendship, forgotten past, exorcism
S: Takaya is a tough high school student who is best friends with gentle Yuzuru. His life is thrown into turmoil when a mysterious man named Naoe arrives and tells him that he was a powerful leader in a past life. Takaya must unlock his spiritual powers and try to uncover the past that Naoe seems intent on keeping from him.
I love this series and the main reason for this is that it has the most beautifully complicated relationship. My heart ached for these characters at several points of the series and I was surprised when the whole truth of the past was uncovered. If you're looking for graphic sex scenes, then this isn't the series for you because it's a complete tease, but the teases are so well done that I found them to be enticing. The OAV has an especially erotic scene in the second episode. Although this show focuses on a relationship between two men, straight men could easily enjoy the show if they have an open mind (I actually first watched the show with a straight male, and he really enjoyed it).
This show is exactly my type of anime (although I watch a wide variety). There was no super-deformed mode and the storyline was dark and multi-layered. I really liked the art style, but some complain that the characters are hard to distinguish from each other at first. Another complaint might be that the plot is too complicated, and I'll admit I understood it much better upon a second viewing as it assumes knowledge on the part of the watcher of Japanese history, and with everyone having both a past and present name, it is difficult keeping all the characters and their allegiances straight.
This anime is one of my favorites, and I'm hoping that eventually there will be another OAV because I would love to see how the relationships are resolved. A
Tags: anime
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02:23 pm
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Novels: Lost Souls and Drawing Blood by Poppy Z. Brite
I decided to put these two together because they technically have the same setting. Lost Souls is supposed to come before Drawing Blood, but they are so loosely connected that it doesn't really matter. I read Drawing Blood first, and the only thing it gave away was the ultimate fate of two of the Lost Souls characters.
Lost Souls
Poppy Z. Brite
Horror/ Supernatural
Keywords: vampires, punk, band, blood, drugs, road trip, twins, incest, death, non-consensual
S: Nothing knows little of his past as he was abandoned on a doorstep at birth and named Jason by the couple who adopted him. Now he runs away on a quest to find out about himself and meet up with the band he has always idolized, Lost Souls. Steve and Ghost are members of Lost Souls who suddenly find themselves mixed up in a world of the undead.
The slash relationships in this are pretty twisted and I found myself laughing at one of the thoughts of the "main" character concerning his sex life (pretty messed up). I found that I wasn't really attached to any of the actual couples except for the one that wasn't really a couple. Without giving too much away, I will say that in my opinion this novel has the hottest m/m kiss scene ever. What was so hot about it? I don't know, maybe it was in the fact that in the midst of all this casual sex, there were two characters that shared such an emotional intimacy and they weren't capable of realizing it physically because one of the men was straight. Some of the sexual scenes were violent in a way that made me slightly queasy. Of course we are dealing with vampires.
This was Brite's first novel and for a first novel it is good in the way that it is edgy and to the point, while using symbolism and figurative language (I absolutely loved her allusion to Lord of the Flies at the beginning of the novel). You won't find many plots like this, and she manages to weave the many story lines together with little effort. Although I really liked the novel, I had some problems with it. The first was that I was never really connected to the characters. There was only one or two that I really cared about, and I didn't really care all that much. The ending was anti-climatic for me because I wasn't involved. I also thought that the ending was too cracked out and left too many unanswered questions. My sister would disagree and loved the ending, so maybe I was just in a bad mood when I read it.
There are so many wonderful things about this novel especially its originality, but it failed to really animate its characters. Read it for the randomness and read it for that kiss. B
Drawing Blood
Poppy Z. Brite
Horror/ Supernatural
Keywords: ghosts, comic books, hacker, drugs, punk, band, murder,
S: Trevor, an underground comic artist, has come back to his family home to try to make sense of his tragic past. Zach is a computer hacker who meets up with Trevor while running from the law. It seems as if something in Trevor's old house is trying to communicate with them.
Trevor and Zach have a bizarre relationship but not in a bad way. They are violently obsessed with one another while at the same time tender. The first time they meet is a perfect example of their insanity. They took me on a wild ride, and I enjoyed every minute of it. The sex scenes are both erotic and violent (okay, so sometimes just violent), but somehow beautiful. There are also descriptions of other erotic encounters. This is a fairly graphic novel and she describes blood and guts with a joy I've seen from no other author, so be warned.
I loved the plot of this book and although the first 20 pages or so made me sick to my stomach (I'm a wimp), I couldn't stop reading. I was completely hooked for about two days and when I was almost finished with it and had to put it down for bed (so I could get up for work) I actually dreamed about it and couldn't sleep because I had left off at such a disturbing scene. I ended up getting up at 5 and finishing it because I was so worried about the fate of the characters. Unfortunately I saw the ending as too simplistic, but I will say it wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Brite's writing style is distracting to me in this one. She uses some of the weirdest similes, metaphors, and analogies. She describes two lovers as being like "Two twins in a womb" and a river as running through the city like a brown artery or something like that. Some of them were good, but some of them made me laugh a little and it seemed she had one for everything. She also used too much detail at times. At one point in the book she goes into the mind of an old man sitting in a bar and how he sees the main characters. He gets a page or two of POV and then disappears. It didn't really bother me, but I could see how it could annoy someone. Another complaint (my sister's) is that it takes over a hundred pages for the main characters to meet. I actually liked getting to know them separately, but parts of this were a little slow.
I was in a trance the whole time reading this novel (much like the main characters, but mine wasn't drug induced), and would highly recommend it to anyone who likes novels that are completely out of the main stream. The writing is slightly distracting and the violent content is graphic, but if you can get past that, you'll find a wonderful read. A-
I would love to hear from anyone who has read Exquisite Corpse. I'm a little afraid of it because I've heard it's her most violent and graphic.
Tags: novels
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